SUNBURY - Approximately 200 high school students from Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties will participate in the annual Susquehanna Valley High School Envirothon Tuesday at the Shikellamy State Park Overlook.
The annual environmental education competition will begin at 9:15 a.m. and end with an awards presentation at 1:20 p.m. An overall team winner will be named, as well as top teams from each county.
Students from ninth through 12th grades will be tested at five separate stations in each of the following categories: aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils and a current issue which is "Urban and Community Forestry." A non-testing educational station will also be provided.
Individual county winners will advance in the Pennsylvania State Envirothon competition to be held May 19 and 20 at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
Representatives from the PA Fish Commission, PA Game Commission, Bureau of Forestry, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Bureau of State Parks will conduct the testing at each station. The PA Department of Environmental Protection and conservation district personnel will also be assisting at the event.
The competition is sponsored by Northumberland National Bank, VFW Post 84 in Bloomsburg, Bloomsburg American Legion Post 273, Squadron Post 273 Legion Bloomsburg American Legion, Ag Choice Farm Credit, Central Susquehanna Woodland Owners Association, Roaring Creek Valley Conservation Association, Fishing Creek Watershed Association, Chillisquaque Limestone Watershed Association, R. Wintersteen Excavating, Welby Homes Inc., Watson Excavating, JD Feaster Earthworks Inc., Service Electric Cablevision, Middleswarth Potato Chips, VFW Post 6631 in Selinsgrove, R J Hoffman and Sons, L/B Water Service Inc., Byerly Meats, Stackhouse and Son Well Drilling, Larson Design Group, Meckley's Limestone Products, Inc., The Daily Item, Waste Management of Coal Township, American Legion Auxiliary Post 273 in Bloomsburg, Oakes Coffee and Bottled Water, United Water, Heister House Millworks, Briar Creek Association for Watershed Solutions, Wood Mode Inc. and the local conservation districts of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties.
The Envirothon program is designed to heighten environmental awareness in each student, test their knowledge and understanding of natural resource issues and produce environmentally responsible adults. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the Envirothon.